October is National Co-op Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s co-ops. When I consider the positive influence cooperatives have on society, I’m reminded of the Seven Cooperative Principles. These principles are central to the operations of co-ops worldwide since they represent the core values that are recognized and adhered to by all cooperatives.

In the spirit of Co-op Month, I’d like to review the Seven Cooperative Principles to highlight how truly different the values-driven nature of cooperatives is relative to profit-driven corporate America. For this month’s column, we’ll review Principles #1 through #3. Next month we’ll complete our review with Principles #4 through #7.

Principle #1: Voluntary & Open Membership. Co-ops are open to
all people willing to accept the responsibilities of membership,
without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

Simply stated, since the beginning, any adult could join GreenStar.
This year, we took a significant step in further broadening our open
membership philosophy. Our recently launched FLOWER discount program
improves access to member-ownership for low-income individuals who
qualify for certain government assistance programs, in turn, helping
GreenStar to further diversify our Co-op across the economic strata of
our community.

Principle #2: Democratic Member Control. Cooperatives are democratic
organizations controlled by their members; the people who buy the goods
and use the services of the co-op own and control the co-op.

As member-owners, we actively participate in decision-making through
a democratic voting process. Every GreenStar member-owner is eligible
to vote in Council elections, on member-sponsored referendums and on
policy matters that require a membership vote, as outlined in our
bylaws. Unlike corporations where the number of votes is based on how
much money people invest, every member-owner at GreenStar has an equal
voting share, so no one’s vote counts more than another’s.

This month’s bylaws vote is an excellent example of the power of
member-ownership. The bylaws define the democratic and organizational
structure of our Co-op. This month, as member-owners, we have the
opportunity to vote on proposed changes to these bylaws, changes that
will directly influence how our Co-op is run in years to come.

Principle #3: Members’ Economic Participation. Member-owners
contribute equally to, and democratically control, the capital of the
cooperative. Member-owners benefit in proportion to the business they
conduct with the cooperative rather than on the capital invested.

Every GreenStar member-owner pays a $90 equity share. No one
member-owner invests more than another. We all have an equal stake in
the Co-op! The financial benefit a member-owner receives through our
discount structure is directly related to how much they shop at the
store. The more groceries a member-owner purchases at GreenStar, the
greater the financial benefit he or she will receive.

When GreenStar member-owners voted this past spring on expansion, it
was in the membership’s power to direct Council and Management to
purchase, or not purchase, the property at 701 W. Buffalo Street. This
is just one example of how our membership democratically controls the
capital of the Co-op. Council is currently discussing potential changes
to the Co-op’s equity structure. However, it will be the membership at
large who cast the final vote on whether or not we make the changes to
how we collect capital from and distribute our earnings to
member-owners.

Stay tuned next month, when we bring you Principles #4 though #7.
For more information on the Cooperative Principles, visit the
International Co-operative Alliance website at www.ica.coop .

The first day Lauree Myler visited GreenStar, she knew she'd come to the right place. New in town, she and her kids had been traipsing around for hours, looking for a TCAT that never seemed to be coming. "We had no idea where we were, and it was hot as hell," she said. Finding themselves near the West-End store, they went in.